The NJ Dept. of Human Services Office of Emergency Management (DHSOEM) works closely with the NJ State Police Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) in the development of the State’s Emergency Operations Plan (SEOP) especially as it pertains to Emergency Support Function (ESF) number 6 (Mass Care/Emergency Assistance). Our team at DHSOEM coordinates ESF6 with many of our mass care partners across the state which deals with Sheltering, Feeding, Distribution of Emergency Supplies and Family Reunification. During times of crisis or disaster, we staff the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and coordinate disaster response as it relates to mass care.  We have been involved in many recent activations of the SEOC and coordinated response and recovery operations during same.  Working with NJOEM, we have members that can deploy throughout the Nation as part of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) during disasters or times of crisis.  We consistently work with and engage many partners involved in mass care operations and continually build upon these partnerships to create a more robust mass care response operation. 

We serve as the emergency management team for the largest State Department and ensure that all facilities have emergency plans and procedures in place and realistic and effective Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) in order to continue to provide the vital services to those in need.  We work in coordination with our Human Services Police and various Division’s and Offices within the Department in order to ensure the safety and security of all.  We utilize some of our facilities to serve as staging locations for our enormous mass care logistical operation which contains mass care related items (cots, blankets, MREs, water, generators, etc).  These items are stored at locations in Woodbine and New Lisbon Developmental Centers, Trenton and Ancora Psychiatric Hospitals and at other locations as needed. Here are some of the internal responsibilities coordinated by the DHSOEM team: COOP and emergency plans and procedures, mass care logistical storage, assistance in development of disaster related projects for FEMA reimbursement, training and exercises to support plans and procedures, Safety Planning Council, Operations Council, Grants and Federal Surplus Property, strategic planning development and other related duties in order to support Department operations and safety of all.

Our role in providing statewide mass care relief is very important and we rely on some key partnerships we have with the Red Cross and Salvation Army.  We also rely on the many relationships we have fostered between State agencies, Community Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, the Faith-Based and Community-Based groups and other organizations. Here are some of the external responsibilities of the DHSOEM team: The ESF6 Statewide Plan (Mass Care/Emergency Assistance), Mass Feeding Plan, Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs Plan, Repatriation Plan, Family Reunification Plan, Family Assistance Center Plan, Disaster Housing Plan, NJ State Sheltering Task Force, NJ GAINED (Groups for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters), NJ FAST (Functional Assessment Service Team), Disaster Response Activities with FEMA, State Evacuation Shelters, Mass Care Logistics, Disaster Case Management Program and others.

The DHSOEM team is on call 24/7 and can be reached by calling 609-631-4363 or emailing eocesf6@njsp.gov. We are all committed to our duties to ensure the safety and security of the NJDHS family and the citizens of the State of New Jersey during times of crisis or disaster.